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COUNTY, 



NORTH CAROLINA. 



Its Resources, Its Products, 



AND 



ITS PEOPLE. 



REPARED UNDER DIRECTION OF ITS EXPOSITION COMMITTEE. 



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PUBLISHED BY 

ALFEED WILLIAMS <fe CO., 

BOOKSELLERS AND STATIONERS, 

RALEIGH, N. C. 



WAKE COUNTY, N.C 

(kom advance sheets of Shaffer's Township, School \„ 
Business Map of North Carolina..) 
Xc„fr- 7 miles / ,„,/, 



WAKE COUNTY 

Was established in 1770. It was named in honor of the 
Wake family, of which the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. 
Wake, was the head, and into which family the then 
Governor of North Carolina, William Tryon, had mar- 
ried. 

It was erected out of parts of Orange, Johnston and Cum- 
berland counties, and is centrally located between the Al- 
leghany mountains and the Atlantic ocean. It has an area 
of 85G square miles, and contains a population of near 
50,000. 



COUNTY SEAT, &C. 

Raleigh, the County seat was chartered and declared the 
seat of the State government in 1792. It is named in honor 
of Sir Walter Raleigh, the English statesman who fitted 
out the first expedition which landed on the shores of North 
Carolina. 

It stands upon a group of hills, shedding naturally in 
all directions from the centre, at an elevation of 365 feet 
above tide water, and is one of the most healthful cities in 
the Union. 

Raleigh, with its suburbs, has a population of 14,000, and 
is rapidly increasing in wealth and numbers. Her broad 



4 WAKE COUNTY, 

streets, beautiful residences and overarching elms consti- 
tute one of the finest cities of the South. 

As many as 75,000 bales of Cotton have been handled 
here in one season, and her business men, merchants and 
mechanics are noted for enterprise, intelligence and in- 
tegrity. 

Raleigh has three National Banks, representing nearly 
$700,000 of capital, all in sound condition. 



SURFACE, SOIL, &c. 

Wake county has a surface moderately rolling and hilly, 
descending towards the Southeast. Its soil is composed 
largely of clay — red, brown and yellow — interspersed and 
underlaid with calcareous stone, sand and mica. 

The soil of the bottom laud varies from pipe clay to rich 
loam and sand, easy of cultivation, and more productive 
than that of the hills. These are preeminently the corn 
producing lands of the county. 



FARMS AND FARM PRODUCTS. 

Wake county has, according to the census of 1880/4,381 
farms, embracing 161,272 acres of improved and 316,814 
acres cf forest land, valued at $4,500,000. The value of 
farm implements was $200,371, and live stock $581,646. 

The cost of building and repairing fences is $63,134 per 
annum, and the cost of fertilizers used is placed at $143,749. 



ITS RESOURCES, PRODUCTS AND PEOPLE. 5 

Its farm products are valued at $2,044,397 per annum, 
and consist of cotton, Indian corn, tobacco, wheat, oats, rye, 
potatoes, &c. 

According to the last census there were raised in 1879 in 
Wake county, 612,869 bushels of Indian corn; 98,962 
bushels of oats; 72,341 bushels of wheat; 11,090 bushels of 
rye; 155,260 bushels of sweet potatoes, and 30,115 bales of 
cotton. Its tobacco crop was in that year 94,354 pounds, 
but one well acquainted with the subject estimates the 
the tobacco crop of Wake county in 1S84 at 720,000 pounds. 

It also produces per annum about 14,000 pounds of wool, 
and 178,246 pounds of butter. Cabbage, turnips, beets, 
pease, beans, onions, peanuts, &c, grow well in all parts of 
the county. 



PRICE OF LAND, 



Farm lands range in value from $8 to $40 per acre, ac- 
cording to soil, improvements and location. 



GOLD LEAF TOBACCO. 

It has been recently demonstrated that Wake county lands 
are well adapted to the growth of the celebrated gold leaf 
tobacco, and fields heretofore devoted to cotton are now 
planted in tobacco. Barns for curing purposes are being 
built in nearly every portion of the county, and hundreds 



WAKE COUNTY, 



of our planters are directing their thoughts to this new 
industry. Warehouses for the sale of the weed are being 
erected at Raleigh, and many are looking to this point as a 
lead ins tobacco market. 



LABOR, &c. 



Laborers are plentiful, and farm hands can be had at 
almost all seasons of the year at from §8 to $10 per month 
and board. Domestic servants can be had from §5 to §10 
per month and board. 



IMPROVED STOCK, &C. 

Thoroughbred Jersey cattle have been introduced into 
the county during the past ten years, with great benefit and 
satisfaction. 

Sheep are self-supporting, free from disease and produc- 
tive. 



ORCHARD PRODUCTS, &C. 

The soil and climate of Wake county are well adapted to 
the "growth of apples, peaches, psars, grapes, melons, and 
berries, and all other small fruits. Nearly every farmer has 



ITS RESOURCES, PRODUCTS AND PEOPLE. J 

a few fruit trees, and a number have large and well culti- 
vated orchards. The value of its orchard products per 
annum is $20,386. 

Strawberries, blackberries and huckleberries grow wild 
all over the county, and when cultivated yield handsomely. 

The fox grape, muscadine and forest grapes grow wild, 
while the improved varieties mature well, and yield abund- 
antly and are unsurpassed in flavor. There are a number 
of vineyards in the county, producing many thousand 
pounds of grapes and gallons of first quality of wine annu- 
ally. The choicest grapes are nearly all shipped to the 
northern cities, where they find read}' sale at good prices, 
ripening much earlier than those grown in higher latitudes. 
The later pickings are manufactured into wine. No disease 
or insect affects vine or fruit, and a failure of our grape crop 
is unknown. 



WOOD, TIMBERS, &C. 

More than one-half of Wake county is in original forests, 
or second growth pines. Wood for fuel is everywhere 
abundant, and except in the towns and villages, is without 
commercial value. In the city of Raleigh it is sold at from 
$2.50 to $3 per cord. 

We have an abundance of yellow pine for building pur- 
poses, which is sawed and delivered at our railroad depots 
at from $8 to $10 per thousand feet. 

We also have hickory, oak, ash, walnut, poplar and maple, 
dogwood, persimmon, beech, gum, &c. 

There are 31 saw mills in the county. 

We quote the following from "The Woods and Timbers 
of North Carolina," viz : 



8 WAKE COUNTY, 

" A greater variety of timber trees are to be found in Wake 
than in any other county in the State. In point of value 
the long-leaf pine comes first, covering at least one-third of 
the area of the county, and extending from the Johnston to 
the Chatham line, and from Harnett to within three miles 
of the city of Raleigh. Short-leaf pine is the prevailing 
growth in nearly every other part of the county. Cedar 
pine grows on Buffalo Creek, and cypress and juniper 
abound on Little River, Buffalo and Moccasin. Sycamore, 
walnut, oak and hickory are the spontaneous growth of all 
parts of the county. Every known variety of oak is to be 
found in its borders. Large white oaks, suitable for ship 
building, are abundant on all the tributaries of the Cape 
Fear and the Haw." 



STREAMS, WATER POWERS, &c. 

As will be seen by reference to the map of the county 
appended, Wake county is traversed by numerous bold and 
living streams, shedding their waters to the southeast. Chief 
among these are Neuse and Little rivers, and Crabtree, 
Swift, Middle, White Oak, Buckhorn, Walnut, Marsh, Buf- 
falo, Big Lick, Barton's, Moccasin and Mark's creeks. 

These streams furnish a large number of excellent mill- 
sites, with ample water-power for factories, &c. 

There are no less than seventy corn and flour mills in 
Wake county, besides numerous cotton gins, &c, propelled 
by water-power. 

Choice varieties of fish abound in all of our streams and 
ponds, and some attention is being paid to fish culture. 



ITS RESOURCES, PRODUCTS AND PEOPLE. 



CHURCHES. 

There are in Wake county 78 churches for the whites, 
and perhaps an equal number for the colored. Of the 
churches for the whites 42 are of the Baptist denomination ; 
18 Methodist; 11 Christian ; 3 Episcopal; 2 Presbyterian ; 
1 Catholic ; 1 Jewish. 



SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. 

The Baptists have a male College (Wake Forest) with 
over 100 students and an endowment of more than 
$100,000. 

The Presbyterians have a Female College (Peace Insti- 
tute) with 160 pupils. 

The Episcopalians have a Female College (St. Mary's) 
with 100 pupils. 

Messrs. Fray & Morson have a flourishing Male Academy 
in Raleigh with over 100 pupils. 

The Centennial Graded School has 11 teachers and from 
•500 to 700 pupils per annum. Admission to this school is 
free to all white persons between the ages of G and 21 years 
residing in Raleigh Township. 

There are many excellent private schools and academies 
throughout the county. 

There are also in every district of every township good 
public schools open from two to six months each year. 
Thirty-three hundred and ninety-six white children re- 
ceived instruction in these schools in 1883. 



IO WAKE COUNTY, 

There are also two large colleges (Shaw University and 
St. Augustine Normal) for the colored, and good graded 
schools in Raleigh and public schools in every district of 
every township where colored children receive instruction 
for a period equal to that of the whites. Fifty -six hundred 
and eighty-five colored children received instruction in 
these schools in 1883. 

Nearly $30,000 are expended annually for the support of 
the public schools of Wake county. 

The public school property of the county is worth over 
$30,000. 



TAXATION, DEBT, &c. 

The usual taxation in Wake county is 66f cents on each 
valuation of property. In assessing property for taxa- 
tion, it is put at about two-thirds its real value in town and 
about one-half in the county. A poll tax of $2 on each 
male over 21 and under 50 years is collected annually. 
Seventy-five per cent, of the poll tax is appropriated for the 
support of the public schools and twenty-five per cent, for 
the poor. 

The debt of the county is about $40,000, mostly contracted 
for the building of a large and commodious Court House, 
with fire proof vaults for its records, and for a brick Jail 
(just completed) with steel-clad cells. 

Wake county bonds and script are at par, and the county 
finances are well managed. 

The aggregate amount of taxes levied annually is about 
$98,000, $32,000 being for county expenses, and $27,000 for 
the State. 



ITS RESOURCES, PRODUCTS AND PEOPLE. I I 

The aggregate value of the real and personal property of 
the county (as assessed for taxation) is $10,522,390. 



POOR HOUSE, WORK HOUSE, &c. 

The poor of Wake county are well cared for at the Parish 
Grove, six miles from the county seat. At the last report 
72 persons were in this institution. These are fed, clothed, 
and furnished comfortable quarters and fuel at the county 
expense. The county physician attends on the sick and 
medicines are dispensed free. The county owns a farm of 
500 acres at this point, 140 of which are in cultivation. 

Persons convicted of minor offences, and who are unable 
to pay court costs, are sent to the County Work House to 
work out costs. Here they are mainly employed in culti- 
vating the Poor House farm, cutting wood, working roads, 
repairing bridges, &c. 



RAILROADS, &c. 



The Raleigh & Gaston Railroad enters the county on the 
north side and runs to the centre. The Raleigh & Augusta 
Air-Line runs from the centre out through the southwest. 

The North Carolina Railroad enters the county on the 
east side and runs entirely through to the west. 

There are eleven railroad stations in the county. 



12 WAKE COUNTY, 

POST OFFICES. 

Postal facilities are good, there being thirty-five post offi- 
ces in the count}' of Wake. 



BUILDING STONES, &c. 

There are a number of excellent quarries of granite in 
the county. In fact, this is found in nearly every township 
while in Cedar Fork and Oak Grove townships we have 
brown stone of good quality, and in Barton's Creek there 
are large quantities of soapstone and serpentine. 

In House's Creek township, four miles from Raleigh, 
there is a large deposit of plumbago. 



MANUFACTURES, &c, 

A large majority of the people of Wake county are en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits, but we have a number of 
manufacturing establishments, prominent among which 
are the following : 

There are sash, door and blind factories at Raleigh, Cary 
and Apex. 

Railroad cars, wheels, &c, are manufactured at Raleigh. 

Excellent qualities of news, book and wrapping paper 
are manufactured at the Falls of Neuse by W. F. Askew 
& Son. 

Number one shoes are manufactured by W. H. Wetmore 
Raleigh. 



ITS RESOURCES, PRODUCTS AND PEOPLE. I 3 

Plows and castings are made at Forestville. 

Saddles, Harness, &c, are manufactured by W. F. Wyatt, 
Raleigh. 

Carriages and buggies are manufactured by Alfred Up- 
church, and Thos. G. Jenkins, and T. B. Yancey, and Evans 
& Martin, Raleigh. 

Wagons, carts, &c, are manufactured by J. Lewis & Co. r 
Bowens and Thos G. Jenkins. 

Spokes, hubs and rims are manufactured by W. D. Wil- 
liams, Raleigh. 

Clothing, by Walker Bros., Raleigh. 

Shingles and laths, J. D. Allen, Ferrell Bros., Len. H. 
Adams, Raleigh. 

Wine, H. Mahler & Co., Raleigh. 

Candy of all descriptions by Royster Brothers, Raleigh. 

Tin, sheet iron and copper ware by J. C. Brewster & Co., 
J. C. S. Lumsden, and Julius Lewis & Co., Raleigh. 

Ice is manufactured at Raleigh in large quantities and 
of excellent quality. 

The Pioneer Manufacturing Company, Raleigh, is turn- 
ing out large numbers of shuttle blocks, handles, (fee. 

Cotton gins are manufactured in the county by two or 
three companies. 

A large company has been formed for the manufacture 
cotton seed oils. 

Besides these, there are blacksmith shops, foundries and 
wood-working shops in nearly every portion of the county. 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS, &c. 

Among the prominent public buildings of Wake county, 
we mention the State Capitol, an elegant granite structure 



14 WAKE COUNT V, 

on Union Square, costing $520,000 ; the United States Court 
House and Post Office at Raleigh, the finest building in 
North Carolina, costing $355,000; the Insane Asylum of 
North Carolina on Dix Hill, seventeen hundred and 
twenty feet long by eighty feet wide, and three stories high, 

costing $ ; the North Carolina Institution for the 

Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, on McDowell street, costing 

$ ; the North Carolina Penitentiary, on Harrison 

Avenue, costing $ ; the North Carolina Agricultu- 
ral Department and Geological Museum, corner of Edenton 
and Halifax streets; Wake County Court House and Jail, 
on Fayetteville street; the Governor's Mansion, now in 
course of construction ; Peace Institute, on Peace street ; St. 
Mary's School on Hillsboro street, &c, &c. 



TOWNS AND VILLAGES. 

Wake Forest, on the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad, is the 
seat of a large and flourishing institution of learning, 
founded by the Baptists of North Carolina. It is a thriving 
village, with a good cotton market. 

Gary, on the North Carolina and Raleigh & Augusta 
Air-Line Railroads, eight miles west of Raleigh, is a pros- 
perous village, and noted for its enterprising business men, 
its manufactures, its excellent schools, its healthfulness and 
steady habits. 

Apex, on the Raleigh & Augusta Air-Line Railroad, 14 
miles from the county seat, is a thriving village, with sev- 
eral manufacturing establishments, three churches, a good 
academy and a number of stores. 

Holly Springs, in Buckhorn township, is a small and 



ITS RESOURCES, PRODUCTS AND PEOPLE. 1 5 

prosperous village, with a post office, church, academy, and 
number of stores. 

Rolesville, is a village in Wake Forest township, four 
miles from the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad. It has three 
churches, a number of stores, two steam cotton gins and 
wood and blacksmith shops. 

Forestville is a village on the Raleigh & Gaston Rail- 
road, 14 miles from the county seat. It has a church, an 
acadein}", two stores and a plow factory. 

Morrisville, on the North Carolina Railroad, 12 miles 
from the county seat, has a flourishing female school, six 
stores, two churches, one steam gin, wood and blacksmith 
shops. Its population is about 150. 

Garner's is a new and prosperous village, six miles east 
of Raleigh on the North Carolina Railroad. 



OUR PEOPLE. 



The citizens of Wake county have always been noted 
for their high regard for law and quiet. There is a senti- 
ment abroad in the county that would cause any citizen to 
frown upon any attempt to disregard lawful authority. The 
morals are as good as can be found in any county with a 
population of 50,000. 

In intelligence they stand as well as the average Amer- 
ican citizen, and, in their general bearing they are not be- 
hind the people of some sections that make greater preten- 
sions. 

The races live together in perfect harmony, quietlv 
pursue their daily avocations without the least fear of an} 7 
molestation from any one. and are rapidly building up 



i6 



WAKE COUNTY. 



014 416 824 



their shattered fortunes. There are no political troubles, 
every citizen, regardless of any race distinction, is left to 
exercise the right of suffrage as it may seem best to him. 

While there are, of course, many violations of the crim- 
inal law of a minor character, there has been but one case 
of capital punishment in the county during the last de- 
cade. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




014 416 824 



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